Shoe with integrated lateral roller

ABSTRACT

An athletic shoe configured for use in sports such as but not limited to floor hockey wherein the shoe of the present invention is operable to provide a rolling lateral movement for the wearer. The shoe of the present invention includes an upper bound to the sole wherein the sole includes sidewalls and a bottom surface. Formed in the bottom surface of the sole is the roller assembly. The roller assembly includes a cavity being defined by four walls. The cavity has a wheel member mounted therein on an axle that is mounted between the front wall and rear wall of the cavity. The mounting of the axle provides the lateral rolling motion. The wheel member is movable between a first position and a second position. In the second position a portion of the wheel member extends beyond the bottom surface of the sole.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to footwear, more specificallybut not by way of limitation, an athletic shoe that is designed toprovide improved lateral movements for users wearing the shoe that areengaged in sports such as but not limited to floor hockey.

BACKGROUND

Most sports often require both specialized fields or courts, equipmentand a certain number of players so as to engage and/or execute a game.Sporting game types range from field sports such as but not limited tosoccer and football to court style sports such as but not limited tovolleyball and basketball. One popular sport in North America is icehockey that is played on an ice rink. Another popular version of thissport is known as floor hockey. Floor hockey is very similar to icehockey with the exception that the players will play on a court andwhere athletic shoes to participate instead of ice skates on an icerink. Floor hockey has the same amount of players playing during a gameand these players play similar positions to those in ice hockey. Theplayers will traverse across the court in pursuit of the puck for eitherdefensive or offensive objectives.

During the playing process one position in particular has many demandsplaced thereon. As with ice hockey, the goalie is responsible fordefending the goal and attempting an opponent's puck from enteringthereinto. The individuals wearing all of the gear that is typicallyassociated with the goalie position must often make quick movements. Itis common for a goalie to have to make a rapid lateral movement in orderto inhibit a puck from entering the goal. As the goalie wears a typicalathletic court shoe making a rapid lateral movement often requires anextreme agility so as to execute movement of the feet and successfullyexecute a lateral movement so as to be properly positioned in order toblock the puck. These movements can only be successfully executed bythose in exceptional physical condition and many goalies cannot executethis desired movement sufficiently.

Accordingly, there is a need for an athletic shoe that is configured toprovide an ability for a wearer to execute a rapid lateral movement inorder to more routinely be in position to successfully block an oncomingpuck.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide an athletic shoethat is configured to enhance a wearers ability to execute a rapidlateral movement wherein the athletic shoe includes an upper and a sole.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an athletic courtshoe configured for a goalie in sporting games such as but not limitedto floor hockey, street hockey or similar sports played on a hardsurface requiring rapid lateral movements wherein the sole includes aroller assembly integrally formed therein.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an athletic shoethat is configured to enhance a wearers ability to execute a rapidlateral movement wherein the roller assembly is positioned centrallybetween the heel and toe area of the sole of the shoe.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an athleticcourt shoe configured for a goalie in field hockey or other sportrequiring rapid lateral movements wherein the roller assembly includes aroller cavity and roller disposed therein wherein the roller is orientedin a longitudinal manner.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an athleticcourt shoe configured for a goalie in field hockey or other sportrequiring rapid lateral movements wherein the roller assembly is placedin a position that is proximate the outer edge of the sole.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide an athleticcourt shoe configured for a goalie in field hockey or other sportrequiring rapid lateral movements wherein the roller of the rollerassembly can be transitioned intermediate a deployed position or astored position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an athletic courtshoe configured for a goalie in field hockey or other sport requiringrapid lateral movements wherein the roller assembly can be operated froma lever that is operably coupled thereto and accessible on the outerside surface of the sole.

An alternate object of the present invention is to provide an athleticcourt shoe configured for a goalie in field hockey or other sportrequiring rapid lateral movements wherein the roller length provides theability for a wearer to engage either the heel or toe area of the solewith the court surface when the roller is in the deployed position.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the presentinvention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings areillustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of thepresent invention, limited only by the scope of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had byreference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a bottom view of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings submitted herewith, wherein variouselements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale and whereinthrough the views and figures like elements are referenced withidentical reference numerals, there is illustrated a shoe withintegrated lateral roller 100 constructed according to the principles ofthe present invention.

An embodiment of the present invention is discussed herein withreference to the figures submitted herewith. Those skilled in the artwill understand that the detailed description herein with respect tothese figures is for explanatory purposes and that it is contemplatedwithin the scope of the present invention that alternative embodimentsare plausible. By way of example but not by way of limitation, thosehaving skill in the art in light of the present teachings of the presentinvention will recognize a plurality of alternate and suitableapproaches dependent upon the needs of the particular application toimplement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyondthat of the particular implementation choices in the embodimentdescribed herein. Various modifications and embodiments are within thescope of the present invention.

It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limitedto the particular methodology, materials, uses and applicationsdescribed herein, as these may vary. Furthermore, it is also to beunderstood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose ofdescribing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit thescope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein andin the claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include the pluralreference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, forexample, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or moreelements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in theart. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusivesense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having thedefinition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusiveor” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structuresdescribed herein are to be understood also to refer to functionalequivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed toexpress approximation should be so understood unless the context clearlydictates otherwise.

References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “exemplaryembodiments”, and the like may indicate that the embodiment(s) of theinvention so described may include a particular feature, structure orcharacteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes theparticular feature, structure or characteristic.

Referring in particular to the Figures submitted as a part hereof, the ashoe with integrated lateral roller 100 includes an upper portion 10that is integrally formed with a sole 20. The upper portion 10illustrated herein is exemplary in style and it should be understoodwithin the scope of the present invention that the upper portion 10 ofthe present invention is similar to that of a conventional courtathletic shoe. The upper portion 10 is manufactured from a suitablematerial such as but not limited to leather and is secured utilizinglace members 15. It should be understood within the scope of the presentinvention that the shoe with integrated lateral roller 100 is providedin a plurality of alternate sizes and colors.

The upper portion 10 is secured to the sole 20 utilizing suitabledurable techniques such as but not limited to chemical adhesion and/ormechanical fasteners. The sole 20 is manufactured from rubber materialand includes a bottom surface 22 illustrated in FIG. 1. It should beunderstood within the scope of the present invention that the treadpattern illustrated on the bottom surface 22 is exemplary only. The sole20 includes an inner perimeter edge 25 and an outer perimeter edge 30.The inner perimeter edge 25 is proximate the inside of a wearers footwhile the outer perimeter edge 30 is proximate the outside of a wearers'foot ensuing a wearer donning the shoe with integrated lateral roller100.

A roller assembly 40 is formed in the sole 20 of the shoe withintegrated lateral roller 100. The roller assembly 40 includes a cavity42 defined by walls 44 wherein the roller assembly 40 has an interiorvolume. In a preferred embodiment the cavity 42 is rectangular in shapebut it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention thatthe cavity 42 could be formed in alternate shapes and sizes. The cavity42 has disposed therein a wheel member 50. The wheel member 50 isrotatably mounted to axle 60 wherein the axle 60 is secured intermediatethe front wall 48 and rear wall 49 of the cavity 42. The aforementionedorientation of the axle 60 provides a wheel member 50 mounting thatenables the lateral rolling capability of the a shoe with integratedlateral roller 100 as is discussed herein.

The wheel member 50 is manufactured from a suitable durable materialsuch as but not limited to plastic. The wheel member 50 is movableintermediate a first position and a second position. In the firstposition the wheel member 50 is stored within the interior volume of thecavity 42 wherein no portion thereof extends beyond the bottom surface22. In its second position, the wheel member 50 is extended outward fromthe cavity 42 so as to have a portion thereof extend beyond the bottomsurface 22. In its second position the wheel member 50 provides anability for a wearer of the shoe with integrated lateral roller 100 tomake a rapid lateral movement without the need to move their feet as thewheel member 50 facilitates a lateral rolling motion. The rollerassembly 40 is positioned centrally proximate the outer perimeter edge30 so as to be ideally located for the rolling lateral movement.Furthermore, the roller assembly 40 is generally centrally located onthe bottom surface so as to allow a wearer of the present invention toengage either the front area of the bottom surface 22 or the rear heelarea of the bottom surface 22 so as to quickly stop the lateral rollingmovement being provided by the roller assembly.

The wheel member 50 is deployed intermediate its first position andsecond position utilizing lever 70. Lever 70 is located in the sidewall18 of the sole 20 wherein the lever 70 is located in recess 75. Thelever 70 is operably coupled to the axle 60 and is slidable within therecess and functions to provide a user interface to move the wheelmember 50 intermediate its first position and second position. It shouldbe understood within the scope of the present invention that the wheelmember 50 could be moved between its first position and second positionutilizing alternate elements either in place of and/or in conjunctionwith the lever 70.

While the roller assembly 40 is illustrated herein as having one wheelmember 50, it is contemplated within the scope of the present inventionthat the roller assembly 40 could have a plurality of wheel members 50disposed therein.

In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to theaccompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown byway of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may bepracticed. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have beendescribed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitableembodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description mayomit certain information known to those skilled in the art. Thepreceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limitedto the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it isintended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, ascan be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A shoe configured to provide a wearer a rapidlateral movement wherein the shoe comprises: an upper, said upper beingconfigured to surroundably mount a wearers foot; a sole, said sole beingsecured to said upper, said sole having a bottom surface, said solehaving a sidewall, said sole having an outer perimeter edge and an innerperimeter edge; a roller assembly, said roller assembly having at leastone wheel member, said roller assembly being located proximate the outerperimeter edge of the sole, said at least one wheel member being mountedon an axle, said axle being oriented between a front wall and a rearwall of the roller assembly.
 2. The shoe configured to provide a wearera rapid lateral movement as recited in claim 1, wherein the rollerassembly includes a cavity, said cavity being defined by a plurality ofwalls and further having an interior volume operable to receive the atleast one wheel member therein.
 3. The shoe configured to provide awearer a rapid lateral movement as recited in claim 2, and furtherincluding a lever, said lever being mounted in said sidewall of saidsole, said lever operably coupled to the at least one wheel member, saidlever configured to move the at least one wheel member between a firstposition and a second position.
 4. The shoe configured to provide awearer a rapid lateral movement as recited in claim 3, wherein in thefirst position the at least one wheel member is retracted into saidcavity.
 5. The shoe configured to provide a wearer a rapid lateralmovement as recited in claim 4, wherein in the second position the atleast one wheel member has a portion that extends beyond the bottomsurface of the sole.
 6. A shoe that is configured to facilitate alateral movement for the wearer thereof wherein the shoe compromises: anupper, said upper being configured to surroundably mount a wearers foot;a sole, said sole having a front end and a rear end, said sole beingsecured to said upper, said sole having a bottom surface, said solehaving a sidewall, said sole having an outer perimeter edge and an innerperimeter edge; a roller assembly, said roller assembly having a cavity,said cavity being defined by four walls and further having an interiorvolume operable to receive a wheel member therein, said roller assemblybeing located proximate the outer perimeter edge of the sole, said wheelmember being mounted on an axle, said axle being oriented between afront wall and a rear wall of the cavity of the roller assembly so as tofacilitate a movement of the wheel that is perpendicular to the sole;and wherein the wheel member is movable between a first position and asecond position.
 7. The shoe as recited in claim 6, wherein the rollerassembly is position halfway between said front end and said rear end ofsaid sole.
 8. The shoe as recited in claim 7, and further including alever, said lever being mounted in said sidewall of said sole, saidlever operably coupled to the wheel member.
 9. The shoe as recited inclaim 8, wherein in the first position the at least one wheel member isretracted into said cavity.
 10. The shoe as recited in claim 9, whereinin the second position the wheel member has a portion that extendsbeyond the bottom surface of the sole.
 11. The shoe as recited in claim10, wherein the roller assembly includes an axle, said axle beingoperably coupled to said wheel member, said axle extending intermediatea front wall and a rear wall of the cavity.